North American pulp and paper rail freight up 8% in latest week

By James McLaren, Senior Editor, PPI Pulp & Paper Week, RISI

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2011 (RISI) - North American pulp and paper railroad freight was 8% higher in the week ending Feb. 19 to 9,687 carloads, the Assn of American Railroads reported. Year-to-date carloads of 67,600 were also 8% above the same period of 2010.

US freight in the week was up 13%, Canada up by 0.1% and Mexico 37% higher.

North American lumber and wood products rail freight for the week was up 8.3% to 4,958 carloads and through seven week of 2011 at 32,803 carloads was 4.6% above 2010 levels.

Primary forest products freight was up 0.6% in the week and down 0.3% year-to-date.

Total North American rail freight in the week was up 7.1% and year-to-date was 5.1% higher.